Conservation biology needs a microbial renaissance: a call for the consideration of host-associated microbiota in wildlife management practices

Abstract

The central aim of conservation biology is to understand and mitigate the effects of human activities on biodiversity. To successfully achieve this objective, researchers must take an interdisciplinary approach that fully considers the effects, both direct and indirect, of anthropogenic disturbances on wildlife physiology and health. A recent surge in research has revealed that host-associated microbiota-the archaeal, bacterial, fungal and viral communities residing on and inside organisms-profoundly influence animal health, and that these microbial communities can be drastically altered by anthropogenic activities. Therefore, conservation practitioners should consider the disruption of host-associated microbial diversity as a serious threat to wildlife populations. Despite the tremendous potential for microbiome research to improve conservation outcomes, few efforts have been made to truly integrate these fields. In this review, we call for the microbial renaissance of conservation biology, where biodiversity of host-associated microbiota is recognized as an essential component of wildlife management practices. Using evidence from the existing literature, we will examine the known effects of anthropogenic activities on the diversity of host-associated microbial communities and integrate approaches for maintaining microbial diversity to successfully achieve conservation objectives.

Keywords: conservation; microbiome; wildlife.

Figure 1.

Integrating microbiome and conservation research to enhance recovery of the endangered whooping crane. (a) The microbiomes of parent-reared and artificially reared crane chicks differ in gut microbiota composition. (b) Artificially reared crane chicks have reduced survival and increased rate of respiratory ailments, but transplanting the microbiome from healthy adult cranes into artificially reared chicks may ameliorate adverse health outcomes.